Australia to bring forward its ban on caged eggs after phasing out battery cages for hens, animal advocates say

Animal welfare activists have called on Australia to bring forward its ban on cage eggs after battery cages for layer hens became illegal in New Zealand on 1 January. The Australian government last year committed to phasing out battery cages for hens by 2036, a 14-year lead time for a reform that followed seven years of negotiation with the egg industry to update the animal welfare standards and guidelines for poultry. New Zealand announced its 2023 phase-out in 2012. Australia is more than a decade behind similar nations in responding to consumer sentiment and improving chicken welfare, according to Glenys Oogjes of Animals Australia. “Europe phased them out in 2012 and that’s about when New Zealand started their phase-out,” Oogjes told Guardian Australia. “So we’re not just 10 years behind. We are at least 20 if not 30 years behind in regard to the science and the ethics.” Oogjes said the government was playing catch-up with retailers and most farmers who have already begun to ...